900  C-D. 


The  Missionary  Work  essential  to  the  Development  and  Growth  of 
the  Christian  Church. 


A SEEMON, 


DELIVERED  BEFORE  TUE 


FOREIGN  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY 


OP 


NEW-YORK  AXD  BROOKLYN, 


S-AJBB.A.TII  :NTOVEjMHER,  G and  20. 


BY  REV.  RUFUS  W.  CLARK,  D.D., 

PASTOR  OF  THE  SOUTH  CONGREGATIONAL  CHURCH,  BROOELYN. 


W'lTH  REPORTS  OF  COR.  SECRETARY  AND  TREASURER. 


PuiIis!)tiJ  in  tf)C  Sotittn. 


N E W- YO  R K : 

ALMON  MERVIN,  BIBLE  HOUSE,  ASTOR  PLACE. 


1859. 


JOHN  A.  GRAY, 

Printer,  Slereoiyper,  and  Binder, 
10  ANB  IS  Jacob  Street, 
rire-l’roof  liutldlngs. 


12977 


S E R ]\I  O N . 


2 Cor.  9 : 6. 

“But  this  I saj,  ITe  which  soweth  sparingly  shall  reap  also  sparingly;  and 
which  soweth  bountifully  shall  reap  also  bountifully.” 

This  and  the  preceding  chapter  may  be  regarded  as 
a missionary  address  from  St.  Paul  to  the  Christians  at 
Corinth.  The  feeble  churches  in  Palestine  were  suffer- 
ing greatly  for  want  of  assistance  from  abroad ; and 
the  Apostle  pleads  their  claims  with  that  tenderness  of 
feeling,  logical  skill,  and  force  of  argument  that  charac- 
terize all  his  efforts  in  the  service  of  his  Master. 

He  commences  by  a touching  allusion  to  the  churches 
of  Macedonia,  that  at  the  very  time  they  were  suffering 
persecution,  their  exceeding  joy  at  the  reception  of  the 
doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  prompts  them,  out  of  their  ex- 
treme poverty,  to  show  the  riches  of  their  liberality. 
Instead  of  excusing  themselves  on  the  ground  of  their 
present  severe  trials  and  pressing  necessities,  they  urge 
St.  Paul  to  take  a liberal  donation  to  the  suffering  saints 
in  Judea.  The  Apostle  then  alludes  to  the  eminence 
of  those  whom  he  addresses,  in  the  various  Christian 
graces,  in  faith,  knowledge,  eloquence,  diligence  in  the 
discharge  of  Christian  duties,  in  love  for  himself,  and 
urges  that  the  grace  of  charity  be  added  to  these  ; re- 
minding them  in  language  of  exquisite  beauty  and  irre- 


4 


sistible  power,  of  tlie  grace  of  Him  who  though  he  was 
rich  in  exhaustless  treasures,  yet  for  their  sakes  became 
poor,  that  through  his  poverty  and  sacrifices  they 
might  become  rich  in  spiritual  gifts  and  heavenly  bless- 
ings, Reference  is  made  to  the  divine  estimate  of  the 
charity,  measured  not  by  the  magnitude  of  the  gift,  but 
by  the  expression  made  of  the  feelings  of  the  heart ; to 
the  rewards  that  God  will  bestow  upon  the  benevolent 
in  two  worlds ; to  the  joy  lighted  up  in  the  hearts  of 
the  recipients  of  the  bounty ; to  the  reciprocal  influence 
of  liberality  among  the  churches ; and  to  the  great 
vital  j3rinciple,  presented  in  our  text,  that  each  Christian 
will  reap  in  exact  proportion  as  he  sows.  He  will  reap 
in  the  satisfaction  that  his  benevolent  works  will  afford, 
in  the  development  of  his  Christian  principles,  in  ability 
to  enter  upon  other  extensive  fields  of  usefulness,  and 
in  the  approbation  and  rewards  of  heaven. 

We  propose,  therefore,  to  elucidate  and  prove  the 
proposition  that 

The  missionary  work  is  essential  to  the  development 
and  growth  of  the  Christian  Church. 

Our  arguments  will  be  based  upon  the  natui'e  of 
Christianity ; the  laws  of  the  human  mind  ; the  law  of 
progress  in  the  individual  Christian  character,  and  the 
periods  of  the  greatest  prosperity  in  the  history  of  the 
Church. 

I.  What  is  Christianity  ? Objectively,  we  say,  it  is 
that  system  which  comprises  the  doctrines  and  princi- 
ples taught  by  Christ,  Subjectively,  it  is  that  system 
of  truth  in  the  human  soul  working  out  its  legitimate 
results.  The  Christianity  that  is  in  the  world,  that  is 
real,  vital,  operative,  is,  in  the  followers  of  Christ,  pro- 
duced there  by  the  light  of  Gospel  truth,  and  the  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Spirit.  It  is  not  simply  a system  of 


5 


abstract  principles  bouiul  np  in  a volnine  or  expressed 
in  articles  of  faith,  or  unfolded  in  a Christian  literature, 
or  preached  in  sermons  ; but  it  is  a living  thing,  taking 
hold  of  the  aftections  of  the  heart,  the  faculties  of  the 
intellect,  and  the  powers  of  the  will,  and  constituting 
the  Church,  in  the  language  of  its  Head,  the  salt  of  the 
eai’th,  the  light  of  the  world.  And  when  we  come 
down  to  the  substance  of  Christianity,  as  thus  defined, 
and  analyze  it,  w'e  perceive  that  the  missionary  work, 
or  the  spirit  of  usefulness,  or  the  outgoings  of  the  soul 
in  doing  good  to  others,  is  one  of  its  essential  elements. 
It  is  not  something  superadded  to  a man’s  religion, 
something  that  he  can  cultivate  or  not  cultivate  without 
aflectiug  the  fundamental  principles  of  his  piety.  This 
is  one  of  the  principles  itself. 

Here  is  a man  who  says,  I believe  in  Christ  as  the 
Son  of  God.  I accept  his  doctrines  as  true.  I endeav- 
or  to  live  an  honest  and  upright  life,  have  made  a 
public  profession  of  my  faith,  and  am  endeavoring  to 
save  my  soul.  Very  well,  as  far  as  it  goes.  But  this 
is  only  a part  of  Christianity.  This  system  enters  the 
human  soul  to  revolutionize  it  in  all  its  departments,  to 
search  out  and  expel  every  selfish  principle,  to  rej)ro- 
duce  the  moral  image  of  God,  to  render  the  spirit  God- 
like in  character,  purpose,  and  achievement.  It  rests 
satisfied  with  nothing  short  of  this.  And  to  be  god- 
like, is  obviously  to  have  the  principle  of  benevolence 
supreme  upon  the  throne,  a law  that  enlists  all  the 
faculties  and  powers  in  doing  good  to  others.  For  the 
essence  of  Deity  is  given  in  the  brief  utterance,  “ God  is 
love  ” All  the  other  attributes  exist  for  the  develop- 
ment of  this.  Omnipotence  creates  worlds  and  systems, 
that  channels  may  be  opened  through  which  the 
streams  of  benevolence  may  flow.  Wisdom  frames 
sentient  creatures,  that  are  capable  of  being  the  recip- 


6 


ients  of  the  clivlue  bounty.  Holiness  erects  tlie  great 
pillars  of  right  and  justice  that  sustain  the  manifes- 
tations of  love.  When  Moses  desired  to  see  the 
glory  of  God,  Jehovah  complied  with  the  request,  by 
saying : “ I will  cause  my  goodness  to  pass  before  thee.’’ 
This  was  the  highest,  most  beautiful,  most  sublime  mani- 
festation of  his  glory.  Wonderful  displays  of  his 
power,  the  most  dazzling  exhibitions  of  the  splendors 
of  his  being,  would  be  nothing  to  this.  And  thus  he 
has  caused  his  glory  to  pass  before  successive  genera- 
tions of  men.  It  shines  in  the  sun,  sparkles  in  every 
star,  breathes  in  the  air,  waves  in  the  forest,  blooms  in 
every  flower,  glistens  in  every  gem,  is  heard  in  the 
ocean  anthem  and  in  the  song  of  the  bird,  is  felt  in 
every  pulsation  of  life,  in  every  thrill  of  joy,  in  every 
gift  from  the  infinite  Father.  Even  our  very  know- 
ledge of  God’s  existence  is  derived  through  the  opera- 
tion of  the  great  j^rinciple  that  we  are  considering.  We 
travel  up  to  his  throne  through  the  avenue  that  his 
benevolence  has  opened.  We  know  God  through  his 
love,  and  viewing  him  through  this  medium,  all  the 
attributes  seem  glorious,  and  heaven  and  earth  are 
bathed  in  the  light  of  his  benignant  countenance. 

The  mission,  too,  of  him  who  came  as  the  representa- 
tive of  the  Father  to  men,  is  a striking  illustration  of 
the  principle  before  us.  Although  in  him  dwelt  the 
fullness  of  tlie  Godliead ; although  in  him  were  hid  all 
the  treasures  of  wisdom ; although  as  a teacher  he  let 
down  one  map  after  another  of  eternal  truth,  upon  which 
men  gazed  with  astonishment  and  admiration,  yet  his 
biography  is  written  in  these  words  ; “ He  went  about 
doing  good.”  lie  unfolded  his  character,  revealed 
those  virtues  that  are  new  forces  in  society,  that  are 
more  than  institutions — revealed,  1 may  say,  a new  sys. 
tern  of  religion,  in  his  daily  life.  Each  hour  was  a 


i 


chapter,  each  act  a miracle,  each  suffering  a fulfilled 
prophecy  in  the  New  Testament  of  divine  love.  Virtue 
streamed  forth  from  his  finger  as  he  touched  the  eyes 
of  the  blind,  and  gave  them  sight.  Faith  was  in  his 
tread,  as  the  very  waters  under  his  feet  were  converted 
into  solid  marble.  The  multiplication  of  the  loaves  and 
fishes  was  an  emblem  of  the  reproductive  power  of  the 
truths  he  taught,  and  the  blessed  doctrines  he  promul- 
gated. The  ocean  storm  hushed  by  his  word  was  a 
prophecy  of  that  coming  kingdom  that  would  bring 
peace  on  earth  and  good-will  among  men. 

And  what  shall  we  say  of  Calvary  ? of  that  burdened, 
lacerated,  bleeding  form  toiling  up  the  steep  ascent? 
Why  these  nails,  this  rough  cross,  the  spear,  the  iron- 
clad soldiers,  the  haughty  Pharisee,  the  low  scoffer  ? 
AVhat  strange  mystery  encircles  the  innocent  victim  ? 
That  countenance  bearing  the  traces  of  sorrow  and 
divinity,  the  mingled  wildness  and  majesty  in  the  eye, 
the  sealed  lips,  the  submission  of  a lamb  led  to  the 
slaughter  ? Surely  there  is  some  great  principle  work- 
ing here;  some  great  lesson  for  the  ages  to  come  is 
taught  here.  More  than  a lesson  you  say — Redemption  ! 
Yes,  and  in  the  redemption  is  the  lesson.  It  touches 
character  as  well  as  safety. 

And  Christ  has  a Church  on  earth  that  he  may  mul- 
tiply and  perpetuate  copies  of  himself,  that  his  life  may 
be  repeated  in  that  of  every  true  disciple.  So  fully  did 
the  apostles  comprehend  this  design,  that  St.  John  says: 
“ Hereby  perceive  we  the  love  of  God,  because  he  laid 
down  his  life  for  us : and  we  ought  to  lay  down  our  lives 
for  the  brethren.” 

And  in  relation  to  the  missionary  work,  Ave  have  on 
the  one  hand  the  heathen  waiting  to  receive  the  Gospel, 
and  on  the  other  the  Church  waitino;  to  receive  the 
benefits,  the  culture,  the  spiritual  growth,  to  be  derived 


8 


from  giving  them  the  Gospel.  "VYe  find  ourselves,  in 
professing  Christianity,  under  a law  as  rigid  and  inflexi- 
ble as  the  law  of  gravitation,  that  unites  Christian  vigor, 
the  highest  religious  development,  and  eminence  in 
holiness  to  usefulness  in  extending  the  Redeemer’s  king- 
dom and  saving  the  souls  of  men.  We  do  not  come, 
then,  to-night,  to  press  the  claims  of  a cause  that  lies  in 
the  outer  court  of  your  religion.  We  do  not  come  to 
portray  what  has  been  termed  the  reflex  influence  of 
missions.  We  come  rather  to  plant  this  cause  far  down 
amid  the  primary  elements  of  your  Christianity,  that  it 
may  feel  the  warmth  of  your  heart,  beat  with  every 
pulsation  of  conscience,  work  with  the  forces  of  a sanc- 
tified will,  and  pervade  those  blessed  doctrines  that 
have  come  to  you  from  “ the  truth  as  it  is  in  Jesus.” 

II.  In  the  next  place,  we  argue  from  the  laws  of 
mind,  that  the  missionary  work,  or  benevolent  effort,  is 
essential  to  its  spiritual  development. 

The  soul  of  man  was  created  for  certain  specific  and 
grand  purposes,  which  can  only  be  accomplished  by 
obedience  to  the  laws  that  have  been  instituted  for  its 
government.  Being  made  in  the  image  of  God,  we  may 
reasonably  infer  that  those  laws  are  similar  to  the  prin- 
ciples that  govern  the  Infinite  mind.  And  experience 
and  revelation  show  that  this  inference  is  a correct  one, 
and  that  benevolent  action  calls  forth  the  noblest 
powers  and  confers  the  highest  happiness.  To  coope- 
rate with  God  in  his  great  plans  of  love,  to  follow  in 
the  pathways  that  Jesus  trod,  to  labor  to  extend  the 
kingdom  of  i-ighteousness  and  peace  on  earth,  is  to  bring 
the  mind  directly  under  the  influence  of  those  princi- 
ples that  will  develop  and  strengthen  its  faculties,  and 
open  the  sources  of  the  most  exquisite  enjoyment.  And 
the  pleasure  derived  from  doing  good  Avill  increase  the 


9 


ability,  will  move  all  the  activities  of  the  soul,  will 
kindle  that  ardor  and  enthusiasm  that  are  so  essential 
to  success.  The  joy  of  the  Lord  will  be  the  Christian’s 
strength,  will  send  new  vigor  through  every  fiber  of  his 
being,  will  clothe  him  with  the  whole  armor  of  God — 
the  shield  of  faith,  the  helmet  of  salvation,  and  the 
sword  of  the  Spirit — and  enable  him  to  achieve  signal 
victories  in  the  cause  of  his  IMaster. 

The  Saviour  laid  down  the  principle  that  “ it  is  more 
blessed  to  give  than  to  receive.”  The  benefactor  re- 
ceives the  largest  share  of  the  benefit.  In  the  very  act 
of  blessing  othei*s,  he  is  blessed  himself.  The  young 
Christian  goes  forth  full  of  zeal  to  spread  the  glad  tidings 
of  salvation,  to  enrich  others  with  the  treasures  that  he 
has  found  to  be  so  precious  to  his  own  soul.  lie  pleads 
with  his  fellow-men  to  go  to  the  Saviour,  and  receive 
salvation  at  his  hands.  He  bears  the  standard  of  the 
Cross  to  distant  climes,  and  devotes  his  energies  and 
life  to  the  work  of  extending  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom. 
And  lo ! he  finds  that  he  is  gathering  a harvest  of 
blessings  to  his  own  soul.  As  he  extends  the  light  of 
Christianity,  new  stars  of  hope  shine  in  the  firmament 
of  his  own  spirit.  Every  convert  led  to  Jesus  brings 
the  Saviour  nearer  to  himself,  and  increases  the  value 
and  power  of  the  great  salvation.  As  the  desert  re- 
joices and  blossoms  as  the  rose,  the  chords  of  his  own 
heart  vibrate  to  the  music  of  new  pleasures,  and  he 
walks  in  a Paradise  clothed  with  celestial  verdure,  and 
decorated  with  flowers  that  never  hide. 

But,  we  are  asked,  does  not  this  religion  require  us 
to  make  sacrifices?  Does  not  Christ  himself  say,  “If 
any  man  will  come  after  me,  let  him  deny  himself,  and 
take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me  ?”  Yes ; but  what  is 
Christian  self-denial  ? It  is  simply  giving  up  a present 
small  advantage  for  a future  great  advantage ; relin- 


10 


quishiDg  the  transient  for  the  permanent,  the  temporal 
for  the  eternal.  The  same  authority  says  : “ There  is 

no  man  that  hath  left  house,  or  brethren,  or  sisters*  or 
father,  or  mother,  or  wife,  or  children,  or  lands,  for 
my  sake  and  the  Gospel’s,  but  he  shall  receive  a 
hundred  fold  now  in  this  time,  ....  and  in  the  world 
to  come  eternal  life.”  By  giving  up  the  world,  the 
disciple  of  Christ  takes  possession  of  it.  Treading  the 
earth  beneath  his  feet,  where  it  belongs,  he  becomes 
heir  to  an  hundred  worlds.  Every  planet  in  its  flight 
describes  the  extent  of  his  kingdoms.  Every  star 
shines  upon  his  home.  He  is  no  where  a stranger,  for 
God  is  his  Father.  lie  may  take  the  wings  of  the 
morning,  the  chariots  of  the  dawning  light,  and  hasten 
to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  universe,and  he  is  still  at 
home  in  the  presence  of  the  Infinite.  There  is  no  dark- 
ness to  his  soul,  no  darkness  in  the  universe.  Even  the 
valley  of  the  shadow  of  death  is  lighted  up,  and  angel 
messengers  wait,  when  he  shall  have  drank  of  the  hun- 
dred streams  that  flow  from  the  fountain  of  life  here,  to 
bear  him  to  the  life  everlasting. 

Viewed  in  the  light  of  this  beautiful  law,  the  mis- 
sionary work  comes  to  you,  and  to  every  disciple  of 
Jesus,  as  the  greatest  privilege  that  can  be  conferred 
upon  your  spiritual  and  immortal  nature.  The  door  of 
usefulness  opened  by  this  Society  is  to  you  the  door  to 
the  halls  of  heavenly  knowledge,  where  you  may  be  in- 
structed in  divine  things  according  to  the  promise  : “ If 
any  man  wdll  do  the  will  of  God,  he  shall  know  of  the 
doctrine.”  It  is  the  door  to  a habitation  of  blessedness, 
that  you  would  not  exchange  for  the  palaces  of  kings, 
or  the  houses  of  the  most  famed  earthly  royalty.  And 
when  the  Church  universal  shall  awake  to  a consciousness 
of  this  grand  truth,  she  will  then  put  on  her  strength. 
Jerusalem  will  put  on  her  beautiful  garments,  and  go 


11 


forth  to  publish  salvation  to  the  nations,  and  say  unto 
Zion : “ Tliy  God  reigneth.” 

III.  In  the  next  place,  tlie  truth  of  our  proposition 
apjiears  in  the  history  of  individual  Christians. 

AVho  are  the  men  that  stand  as  fire  pillars  along  the 
wastes  of  past  ages;  who  have  been  as  lights  to  guide 
the  nations ; the  sources  of  institutions ; whose  lives  are 
the  elements  of  a progressive  civilization,  and  are  work- 
in"  with  the  ever-workin"  moral  universe  of  God  ? Are 

O O 

they  not  the  men  whom  missionary  plans,  or  great 
schemes  of  usefulness,  have  developed  ? Have  they  not 
been  educated'in  the  schools  of  benevolence,  disciplined 
and  equipped  by  the  power  of  magnificent  enterprises, 
brought  out  and  placed  upon  the  thrones  of  influence 
by  active  service  for  humanity  and  God  ? 

Heroes  have  lived  who  have  led  on  armies  to  conquest, 
revolutionized  nations,  and  swayed  the  scepter  of  au- 
thority over  vast  empires.  Discoverers  have  opened 
new  worlds  for  the  planting  of  colonies,  that  have  rip- 
ened into  powerful  kingdoms.  Inventors  have  promoted 
the  material  interests  of  society,  and  developed  the 
wealth  of  nations.  Genius  has  left  its  impress  upon  the 
monuments  of  art  and  the  creations  of  ideal  beauty. 
The  thinkers  of  the  race  have  supplied  the  means  for 
intellectual  culture  and  scientific  knowledge.  But  the 
men  whose  lives  have  entered  into  millions  of  other  lives, 
whose  thoughts  constitute  the  mental  nourishment  of 
enlightened  communities,  whose  characters  shine  upon 
successive  generations  with  increasing  lustre  and  power, 
were  developed  under  the  great  law  of  usefulness. 

Moses  was  a missionary  of  the  ancient  faith  to  the 
court  and  people  of  Pharaoh.  His  being  was  conse- 
crated to  the  service  of  God,  and  the  perpetuation  and 
extension  of  the  true  religion,  and  that  consecration  was 


12 


liis  educator.  It  disciplined  liis  intellectual  powers ; 
sanctified  the  knowledge  that  he  acquired  from  the 
Egyptians ; qualified  him  to  lead  forth  the  hosts  of  Israel ; 
gave  him  insight  into  the  principles  of  jurisprudence 
that  to-day  lie  at  the  basis  of  all  civilized  governments, 
and  placed  in  his  hand  the  pen  of  inspiration  that  renders 
his  writings  immortal. 

The  first  outward  manifestation  of  the  reality  of  Paul’s 
conversion  was  the  inquiry:  “Lord,  what  wdlt  thou 
have  me  to  do  ?”  He  was  ready  to  consecrate  his  genius, 
his  intellectual  attainments,  his  energies  of  body  and 
soul,  upon  the  altar  of  duty.  And  now  his  real  life 
begins.  The  forces  of  his  mental  and  moral  nature  are 
quickened  into  activity.  His  mission  reacts  upon  his 
soul,  kindling  the  fires  of  a quenchless  Christian  enthu- 
siasm. His  zeal  sends  the  electric  spark  into  other 
minds,  and  they  brighten  with  new  hopes.  His  exe- 
cutive force  is  employed  in  founding  churches,  establish- 
ing the  new  religion  upon  a firm  basis,  and  resisting  the 
fearful  tide  of  persecution.  The  timid  associating  with 
him  gain  courage ; the  doubting  gain  faith ; the  weak 
gain  strength.  His  intellect,  touched  by  the  spirit  of 
inspiration,  grasps  the  doctrines  of  the  ancient  and  new 
dispensations,  shows  their  relations  and  harmony,  brings 
out  the  nature,  necessity,  and  glorious  consequences  of 
the  atonement.  His  genius,  baptized  in  the  celestial 
influences  of  the  heaven  to  which  he  was  borne,  ever 
after  glowed  with  a supernatural  brightness,  revealing 
his  full  preparation  for  that  state  to  which  he  longed  to 
depart.  Ilis  spiritual  exercises  are  such  that  he  counts 
all  things  as  loss  for  the  excellency  of  the  knowledge  of 
Christ  Jesus,  his  Lord.  Forgetting  what  is  behind,  he 
presses  forward  towards  the  mark  for  the  prize  of  his 
high  calling.  His  great  work  has  kindled  ardent  long- 
ings in  his  soul,  that  can  only  be  satisfied  by  the  ter- 


13 


mination  of  the  perishable  and  his  introduction  to  the 
immortal.  He  has  sown  bountifully,  and  he  reaps 
bountifully.  lie  wrote  epistles  to  local  churches,  and 
although  the  churches  have  passed  aw'ay,  and  ancient 
Rome,  Corinth,  and  Ephesus  are  in  ruins,  and  the  nations 
that  at  that  time  made  the  world  tremble,  are  number- 
ed with  the  wrecks  of  dead  empires,  yet  these  epistles 
live  are  as  fresh  and  vigorous,  and  mighty  to-day  as  at 
any  former  period ; even  more  mighty,  influencing  more 
minds,  stirring  more  hearts,  kindling  in  more  souls  the 
fires  of  a holy  ambition,  than  at  any  former  period. 
His  influence  is  felt.  Sabbath  after  Sabbath,  in  thousands 
of  pulpits,  tens  of  thousands  of  Christian  fomilies,  and 
is  exerted  upon  millions  of  youth  and  children  gathered 
in  Sabbath-schools.  It  pervades  a religious  literature, 
beats  in  the  heart  of  every  benevolent  society,  goes  with 
every  missionary  of  the  Cross  to  distant  lands,  and  will 
yet  be  known  upon  the  plains  of  Africa,  in  the  villages 
of  India,  the  gay  cities  of  China,  among  the  inhabitants 
of  Arctic  regions,  in  the  isles  of  southern  seas,  and 
wherever  the  name  of  his  great  Master  shall  be  whis- 
pered, or  the  Gospel  banner  be  unfurled. 

The  hero  of  the  sixteenth  century  (Luther)  was  com- 
missioned by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  bear  the  principles  of  a 
true  faith  to  the  Papal  kingdoms  of  Europe.  Long  and 
severe  was  the  struggle  in  his  mind  between  the  power 
of  early  superstitions  and  the  dictates  of  conscience. 
Dark  and  heavy  were  the  clouds  of  despair  that  hung 
around  his  spirit,  as  he  groped  along  the  pathways  that 
a corrupt  Chm’ch  had  marked  out,  for  spiritual  growth 
and  religious  peace.  But  when  the  clear  light  of  divine 
truth  flashed  upon  his  soul,  and  the  grandeurs  of  an 
atonement  through  the  sacrifice  of  Christ,  and  of  justifi- 
cation by  faith  in  him,  opened  before  his  view,  and  he 
formed  the  purpose  to  obey  the  voice  of  the  Spirit,  and 


14 


publish  a pure  Gospel,  though  it  cost  him  ease,  reputa- 
tion, and  life  itself,  then  spiritual  health  comes  to  his 
soul,  bright  visions  of  hope  float  before  his  imagination, 
and  he  feels  the  life  of  Jesus  entering  into  his  life,  beat- 
ing with  the  pulsations  of  his  own  heart,  and  enabling 
him  to  say,  with  the  earnest  Apostle : “ I can  do  all 
things  through  Christ,  which  strengtheneth  me.” 

As  the  twilight  of  a great  reformation  dawns  along 
the  moral  horizon,  a new  enthusiasm  is  kindled  in  the 
heart  of  our  hero.  His  intellect  is  quickened  to  discern 
the  beauty  and  force  of  God’s  truth,  and  boldness  is 
given  him  to  expound  and  enforce  the  pure  doctrines 
of  Christianity,  in  the  hearing  of  astonished  and  admir- 
ing thousands.  His  burning  thoughts  flow  as  streams 
of  spiritual  life  over  the  nations.  His  principles  are 
discussed  in  the  palaces  of  kings  and  the  cottages  of  the 
poor,  in  the  halls  of  the  learned  and  the  apartments  of 
the  Vatican.  Millions  are  aroused  from  the  slumber  of 
ages.  A consciousness  of  human  rights,  long  subject  to 
grinding  systems  of  oppression,  flies  with  electric  ra- 
pidity and  power  from  heart  to  heart.  Him  visions  of 
great  changes  to  be  wrought  in  society,  of  mighty  revo- 
lutions in  ecclesiastical  opinions  and  authority,  assume 
shape,  and  become  blessed  realities.  Of  freedom  of 
thought,  freedom  of  speech,  freedom  of  government,  of 
the  glorious  liberty  of  the  Gospel,  our  hero  becomes  the 
unconscious  repi^sentative. 

He  lives  to  see  kingdoms  emancipated,  religion  throw- 
ing off  the  shackles  by  which  it  has  been  for  ages  bound, 
and  a faith  prepared  for  a continent  upon  which  Pro- 
testant institutions  will  rise,  clothed  Avith  invincible 
power,  and  sending  their  liglit  and  influence  to  all  the 
governments  and  religions  of  the  Avorld. 

Time  would  fail  us  to  speak  of  Wyclifle  and  Kno.x,  of 
!Martyn  and  Brainerd,  of  Morrison  and  Mills,  of  Judson, 


15 


Carey,  Fisk,  Newell,  and  a host  of  others,  whose  souls 
have  been  enriched,  whose  affections  have  been  warmed, 
and  whose  hopes  have  been  brightened  by  the  grandeur 
and  glory  of  the  undertakings  to  which  they  have  de- 
voted their  lives. 

Could  we  present  in  a single  vivid  and  graphic  view 
their  daily  religious  exercises  as  portrayed  in  their 
journals,  or  preserved  by  friendly  hands  in  their  pub- 
lished memoii*s ; could  we  paint  the  quickening  influence 
of  benevolent  effort  upon  their  mental  perceptions  and 
intellectual  powers,  enabling  them  to  accomplish  in 
Biblical  science  and  religious  literature  what  some  of 
them  at  least  looked  back  upon  with  astonishment; 
could  we  trace  the  growth  of  their  ability  to  present 
Gospel  truths  in  attractive  forms,  their  wisdom  in  devis- 
ing means  for  promoting  the  good  of  man  and  the  honor 
of  God ; could  we  see  the  tide  of  their  spiritual  happiness 
as  it  flowed  in  a thousand  streams  refreshing  their  spirits 
and  giving  them  foretastes  of  the  heavenly  felicity  that 
awaited  them,  we  should  have  before  us  an  argument 
in  favor  of  the  grand  enterprise  for  which  we  are  plead- 
ing that  would  carry  conviction  to  the  heart  of  every 
Christian  hearer. 

Oh ! how  many  there  are  at  this  hour  standing  upon 
the  hights  of  God’s  everlasting  kingdom,  worshiping  in 
celestial  temples,  and  participating  in  the  joys  that 
human  eyes  have  never  seen,  w'ho  thank  God  that  they 
were  permitted  to  bear  the  glad  tidings  of  salvation  to 
the  perishing  heathen,  and  to  breathe  out  their  life  amid 
the  infant  churches  and  schools,  the  monuments  of  their 
faithful  labors,  among  the  recipients  of  their  instructions 
and  the  subjects  of  their  earnest  prayers. 

Flow  many  Christian  merchants  who  gave  liberally 
of  their  wealth  to  extend  the  Redeemer’s  kingdom,  are 
making  the  arches  of  heaven  ring  with  their  songs  of 


16 


gratitude  for  the  influence  that  led  them  to  thus  lay  up 
their  treasures  where  moth  and  rust  do  not  corrupt ; to 
transport  their  fortunes  where  they  would  yield  abun- 
dant revenues  through  the  ages  of  eternity ! 

Said  a dying  Christian,  who  had  given  large  sums  to 
various  charitable  societies : “ What  I have  spent  of  my 
fortune  is  gone : what  I have  lost  is  beyond  my  re  ach 
but  what  I have  given  away  I carry  with  me.” 

The  Society  that  we  represent  here,  stands  as  a chariot 
to  receive  your  treasures  and  transport  them  to  that 
bright  land  whither  you  hope  that  you  are  hastening. 
They  will  go  by  the  way  of  heathen  shores  to  cheer  the 
missionary  in  his  toil,  to  purchase  for  the  benighted  the 
pearl  of  great  price,  and  then  pass  on  to  await  your 
arrival  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 

Finally — The  periods  of  greatest  prosperity  to  the 
Church  have  been  those  marked  by  the  greatest  liber- 
ality and  zeal  in  giving  the  Gospel  to  the  destitute,  and 
fulfilling  the  last  command : “ Go  ye  into  all  the  world 
and  preach  the  Gospel  unto  every  creature.” 

The  apostolic  age  was  preeminently  one  when  the 
disciples  of  Jesu^  sowed  bountifully  and  reaped  bounti. 
fully.  While  bearing  the  tidings  of  salvation  to  the 
perishing,  and  unfolding  the  love  of  Jesus  to  others, 
every  doctrine  became  more  precious  to  their  own  souls. 
Such  was  the  strength  of  their  faith  and  intensity  of 
their  joy,  that  neither  the  threats  of  their  enemies,  the 
hardships  of  their  position,  nor  the  fires  of  persecution^ 
could  sever  the  ties  that  bound  them  to  Jesus.  One 
breaks  forth  Avith  the  impassioned  utterance : “ Beloved, 
now  are  Ave  the  sons  of  God ; and  it  doth  not  yet  appear 
Avhat  Ave  shall  be,  but  we  knoAV  that  Avlieii  he  appeareth 
AA^e  shall  be  like  him,  for  Ave  shall  see  him  as  he  is.” 

The  obstacles  and  persecution  that  they  encounter 


17 


become  the  seed  of  ])recious  hopes  and  tlie  fuel  of  a 
more  intense  enthusiasm.  Tribulation  worketh  patience, 
and  })atience  experience,  and  experience  hope.  The 
severest  trials  are  counted  as  light  afflictions,  continuing 
but  for  a moment,  and  hailed  with  joy,  because  they 
Avork  out  “ a far  more  exceeding  and  eternal  Aveight  of 
glory.”  In  such  expressions  are  the  evidences  of  the 
vitality  and  prosperity  of  the  early  Church — a Church 
prospered  in  all  the  elements  of  spiritual  poAver,  moral 
greatness,  and  religious  hopes. 

And  from  that  period  to  the  present  the  missionary 
Avork  has  ahvays  stimulated  piety  at  home,  increased 
the  number  of  candidates  for  the  Gospel  ministry,  and 
promoted  revivals  of  religion. 

The  British  and  American  churches  are  indebted  for 
much  of  their  purity,  activity,  and  power,  to  those  be- 
nevolent enterprises  that  embrace  the  welfare  of  man- 
kind, and  aim  at  the  redemption  of  all  nations. 

And  oh ! what  a splendid  future  there  is  before  the 
Church  of  the  nineteenth  century,  if  she  Avill  but  listen 
to  the  trumpet  calls  of  Providence,  awake  to  the  con- 
sciousness of  her  resources  and  strength ; to  the  encour- 
agements of  the  past,  to  the  grandeur  of  the  opportu- 
nities for  usefulness  that  open  in  e\’ery  direction,  and 
to  the  honors  as  well  as  the  duties  embraced  in  the 
command  that  is  emblazoned  in  letters  of  fire  in  the  sky 
over  the  hosts  of  God’s  elect : “ Go  ye  into  all  the  world 
and  preach  the  Gospel  to  every  creature.” 

When  Ave  remember  that  this  command  has  already 
stirred  Christendom,  and  mo\"ed  the  Church  up  to 
a higher  level  of  faith  and  hope ; that  it  has  organized 
nearly  one  hundred  and  fifty  large  societies  that  are 
laboring  to  spread  the  Gospel  among  the  destitute  and 
in  foreign  lands;  that  at  an  annual  expense  of  seven 
millions  of  dollars,  it  is  sustaining  among  the  heathen 
2 


18 


twenty-three  hundred  missionaries  and  assistant-mission- 
aries, engaged  in  the  various  departments  of  Christian 
labor,  preaching  the  Gospel,  establishing  schools,  pre- 
paring grammars  and  dictionaries  to  facilitate  the  work 
of  education,  and  diffusing  through  various  languages  a 
Christian  literature ; that  it  has  gathered  converts  on 
the  classic  soil  of  Greece,  among  the  hills  of  Palestine, 
the  ports  of  Syria,  the  villages  of  India,  the  wild  tribes 
of  Southern  Africa,  the  islands  of  eastern  and  southern 
seas,  and  under  the  shadow  of  the  mountains  of  Persia, 
the  ice-clad  hills  of  Greenland,  the  mosques  of  Arabia, 
and  the  temples  of  China ; when  we  remember  all  this, 
and  look  out  upon  the  army,  two  hundred  and  twelve 
thousand  strong,  that  has  come  from  under  the  night  of 
Paganism  into  the  glorious  light  of  liberty  of  the  Gospel, 
and  think  of  thousands  of  others  who  are  in  heaven 
singing  the  songs  of  redeeming  love,  surely  we  have 
every  encouragement  to  press  forward  in  this  noble 
work. 

The  next  half-century  may  be  even  more  distinguished 
for  the  triumphs  of  the  Gospel  than  the  last  has  t^^en. 
With  science  and  art,  education  and  literature,  the 
power  of  the  press,  and  the  achievements  of  enterprise 
to  aid  us ; with  the  evidence  that  the  missionary  work 
is  no  longer  an  experiment,  but  a success  which  has  re- 
ceived the  seal  of  Heaven’s  approbation ; and  with  the 
promise  of  the  adorable  Saviour,  “ Lo ! I am  with  you 
always,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world,”  the  Church 
must  “put  on  her  strength,”  and  not  rest  until  “the 
kingdoms  of  the  Avorld  are  become  the  kingdoms  of  our 
Lord.” 

Look  abroad  and  see  the  evidences  of  mighty  revolu- 
tions in  human  thought,  in  the  institutions  of  society,  in 
the  facilities  of  intercourse  between  nations,  and  the  force 
that  sways  the  destinies  of  mankind.  Millions  are 


19 


awaking  from  tlie  slumber  of  ages.  Princes  tremble 
upon  their  thrones — despotism  is  losing  its  hold  upon 
the  masses.  The  vast  enginery  of  the  press  is  shooting 
the  light  of  truth  across  continents,  and  discussing  every 
(question  that  pertains  to  the  rights  of  man  or  the  welfare 
of  society.  Commerce  is  exploring  the  pathways  for 
future  missionaries  to  tread,  and  opening  gates  that  the 
messengers  of  God  may  enter  with  the  bread  of  life. 
The  schemes  of  infidelity  are  coming  to  naught,  and 
science  is  laying  her  treasures  upon  the  altar  of  religion. 

This  is  the  hour  for  duty  and  for  victory.  Let  the 
Church  fulfill  the  one  and  achieve  the  other,  and  the 
universe  will  echo  with  the  joyous  anthem,  “Alleluia ! 
for  the  Lord  God  omnipotent  reigneth and  the  domi- 
nion and  the  greatness  of  the  kingdom  will  be  “ given 
to  the  people  of  the  saints  of  the  Most  High.” 


THIRTY-SECOND  ANNUAL  REPORT 


OF  THE 


|[eto-|orIi  anb  irfl0W]|n  forngu  Sissi0naru  glssonatian. 


We  finish  with  this  Anniversary  the  thirty-second  year  of  our  wwk  as  a Society. 
In  the  last  report  we  recorded  the  death  of  two  of  our  Vice-Presidents ; hut  during 
the  year  under  review,  through  the  goodness  of  God,  no  officer  of  this  Society  has 
been  removed  from  among  us.  Our  monthly  meeting  for"  the  communication  of 
missionary  intelligence  has  been  attended  unusually  well.  It  was  deemed  advisa- 
ble to  change  the  place  of  this  meeting  from  the  Tract-IIouse,  wliere  it  had  been 
held  so  long,  to  the  present  more  convenient  location  in  the  Bible-House;  and 
though  this  change  has  sacrificed  some  associations  hallowed  and  precious — as  all 
such  changes  must — yet  its  results  have  justified  its  wisdom. 

The  past  year  has  been  far  less  eventful  than  w'as  that  year  of  general  revival 
which  preceded  it.  Very  few  of  our  churches  have  been  blessed  with  the  special 
influences  of  the  Spirit;  so  that  the  present  review  may  not  seem  so  bright  or  so 
encouraging  as  was  the  last.  But  we  remember  that  though  the  brilliant  orchard- 
blossoms  of  the  Spring-time  fall,  yet  they  give  place  to  the  growing  fruit ; and  then 
f the  landscape  does  seem  more  subdued  and  sombre,  (for  this  loss,)  it  is  enough  to 
know  that,  hidden  among  the  leaves,  the  fruit  is  slowly  approaching  its  golden  ma- 
turity. So  we  believe  that  though  the  glow  and  flush  of  revival  feeling  may  have 
subsided,  yet  there  are  many  indications  which  show  that  revival-fruits  are  growing. 
Elemental  in  such  growth,  there  must  of  necessity  be  progress  in  missionar}’-  zeal 
and  efficiency.  This  growth  must  continue;  then  what  results  of  “the  Great 
Awakening”  may  we  not  expect  to  see  for  years  to  come,  garnered  into  the  king- 
dom of  God. 

And  we  have  heard  during  the  past  year,  how  the  pulses  of  this  quickened  life 
in  our  American  Church  have  been  felt  across  the  ocean.  The  religious  impulse  of 
our  era,  beginning  in  Judea.,  and  through  eighteen  and  a half  centuries  moving 
westward,  has  seemed  now,  like  a galvanic  current,  to  return  eastward  upon  its  own 
course.  Its  potent  thrill  has  been  felt  anew,  not  only  through  the  British  empire 
and  in  continental  Europe;  it  has  crossed  the  Bosphorus  and  the  Euxine,  and  the 
mountains  of  Kurdistan ; it  has  passed  to  Persia,  and  Africa,  and  India,  and  China, 
and  to  the  islands  of  the  Pacific.  God  grant  that  it  may  come  back  again  to  us, 
and  never  cease  to  go  from  land  to  laud  until  the  whole  world  bo  ensphered  with 
millennial  glory. 

About  the  time  of  our  last  Anniversary  a revival  had  commenced  in  that  mos 
interesting  and  important  Institution,  the  Bebck  Seminary  at  Constantinople.  A 
liltlo  daily  prayer-meeting,  begun  by  four  of  the  younger  jrupils,  soon  embraced  the 
entire  school;  all,  with  one  e.xception,  taking  an  active  part  in  it.  In  a few  weeks 
nearly  all  the  students  wore  hoping  in  Christ;  and  after  the  lapse  of  several  months, 


21 


tho  missionaries  write  tliat  there  have  been  no  indications  that  tho  work  was  not 
genuine  and  thorough.  The  effect  upon  tho  pious  students  is  described  as  having 
been  truly  wonderful.  Full  of  love  and  zeal,  they  went  forth  into  the  neighboring 
churches,  and  labored  with  great  efficiency  and  success.  This  remarkable  work  ol' 
gnice,  wo  are  told,  presented  precisely  tho  same  characteristics  which  were  salient 
in  the  awakening  enjoyed  by  our  American  churches.  Its  influence  was  widely 
felt  among  the  mission  families,  the  native  churches,  and  among  those  who  hitherto 
had  been  unaftected  by  the  truth.  In  Constantinople  a daily  prayer-meeting 
was  commenced  and  sustained  with  deep  interest.  Not  ns  yet,  are  many  hopeful 
converts  reported  among  the  Mohammedans ; but  tho  work  on  their  behalf  is  in- 
crea.sing  in  promise,  presenting  a decided  contrast  with  the  difficulty  and  tho  bar- 
renness of  former  years.  Tho  church  at  Marash  has  a remarkable  history.  Tho 
missionary  work  was  commenced  there  but  five  years  since.  In  the  beginning  of 
1838  this  church  had  forty-nine  members;  within  the  past  fifteen  months  eighty- 
four  have  been  added  to  this  number  by  profession.  At  tho  Nestorian  Mission  there 
have  been  in  both  of  tho  Seminaries  revivals  which  have  extended  into  several  of 
the  adjoining  villages.  Tho  Mission  Church,  numbering  two  hundred  and  ninety- 
six  members,  reports  that  a score  or  more  have  been  added  at  each  communion 
season.  The  Syrian  Mission,  spreading  over  the  ridges  of  Lebanon,  received  nine, 
teen  to  the  church  early  in  the  past  year.  The  Missions  in  Western  India,  where 
Hall,  Newell,  and  their  associates  began  their  labors,  are  the  oldest  in  connection 
with  tho  American  Board.  At  these  Missions,  the  intelligence  of  the  awakening  in 
America  produced  a profound  impression.  In  their  dail}'  prayer-meetings,  we  are 
told,  “ the  thoughts  and  feelings  which  thrilled  the  hearts  of  those  who  attended 
the  prayer-meetings  in  New-York,  Boston  and  Philadelphia,  touched  a responsive 
chord,  and  led  to  more  earnest  and  united  supplication  ” for  a blessing  on  Missionary 
labors.  Three  nfew  churches  make  the  whole  number  eleven,  with  three  hundred 
and  nineteen  members,  of  whom  eighty-six  were  added  during  the  past  year.  The 
Madura  Mission  now  numbers  twenty-eight  churches,  with  five  ^native  pastors, 
and  a membership  of  nine  hundred  and  ninety-seven ; one  hundred  and  twelve  new 
members  having  been  added  during  the  year  under  review.  The  Ceylon  Mission 
reports  twenty-eight  additions  to  their  churchea  Tho  “ Self  supporting  English 
High  School,”  at  Batticotta,  is  still  prosperous;  and  the  Batticotta  Seminary  has 
been  reopened,  as  a “Training  and  Theological  Institution,”  for  the  education  of 
pious  natives  for  pastors  and  helpers.  The  Missionaries  in  China  are  convinced  that 
the  time  for  the  occupation  of  the  Interior  has  come.  Dr.  Bridgman  writes,  that 
probably  more  conversions  have  occurred  there  in  the  last  year  than  during  the 
previous  half-century.  The  Mission  among  the  Choctaw  Indians  of  our  own  land, 
reports  one  hundred  and  thirty-two  hopeful  conversions  during  the  year. 

Such  facts  as  these  are  eloquent  with  instruction  and  with  exhortation  to  every 
one  whose  heart  beats  in  sympathy  with  the  heart  of  Christ.  There  is  one  lesson 
of  profound  importance  which  they  utter  with  special  emphasis  to  us.  They  show 
us  how  a revival  in  our  church  at  home  will  send  its  potent  influences  through  aU 
the  Missionary  field.  They  teach  us  that  the  prayer-meeting  in  New-York  is  united 
with  the  prayer-meetings  in  Constantinople,  in  the  mountains  of  Nestoria,  in  Syria 
in  India,  in  China,  and  in  the  Islands  of  the  Pacific,  as  by  a great  net-work  of  nerves, 
sensitive  to  every  thrill  of  Christian  feeling.  We  have  been  accustomed  to  look 
out  into  the  great  Mission  field  for  encouraging  results  wherewith  to  feed  the  flame 
of  our  zeal,  and  to  nerve  the  energy  of  our  purpose  in  this  work  of  Christ.  But  the 
lesson  of  the  past  year  is,  that  we  need  to  look  more  earnestly  and  prayerfully  to 


22 


our  own  spiritual  condition  at  home,  because  its  effects  are  so  potential  abroad.  It 
is  not  only  nor  chiefly  an  overflowing  treasury  which  the  Missionary  work  is  need- 
ing, but  such  a state  of  piety  in  our  own  churches  here,  as  the  late  revival  showed 
us  we  might,  and  therefore  ought  to  have.  In  many  portions  of  the  foreign  fleld, 
the  work  seems  to  have  reached  just  now,  a critical  stage  in  its  progress.  It  has 
reached — if  I may  so  speak — just  that  condition  of  equipoise  in  which,  if  only  it 
receives  under  God,  the  right  impulse  from  the  forces  of  our  Christian  life,  it  will 
sweep  before  it  at  once  all  the  obstacles  it  has  been  so  long  undermining,  and  so 
will  startle  and  shame  our  feeble  faith,  by  achieving  as  in  a day,  results  sublime  as 
the  compass  of  prophecy  and  promise.  The  treasury  of  the  Lord  does  indeed 
require  money;  but  it  wants  that  money  to  be  baptized  with  the  tears  of  penitence 
and  prayer;  it  wants  it  to  be  redolent  of  faith,  of  love,  of  self-denial,  and  of  the  pro- 
foundest  Christian  sympathy ; or  it  wOl  not  pass  current  in  the  purchase  of  such 
blessings  as  the  heathen  need.  No  novel  or  artful  scheme  of  begging  can  All  the 
Lord’s  treasury ; it  will  be  really  full  only  when  the  faith,  and  love,  and  Christian 
sympathies  of  the  Church  shall  reach  and  maintain  so  high  a level  as  to  overflow  it 
with  their  fullness  of  blessing.  The  Church  must  be  earnest,  for  the  times  in  which 
we  live  are  earnest.  Whatever  is  slow  and  feeble  is  overborne  by  the  momentum 
of  modern  haste.  Concentration  and  intensity  are  the  conditions  for  the  attain- 
ment of  place  and  power  among  the  factors  of  the  age.  The  church  must  “ know 
the  time;"  she  must  give  herself  with  increasing  energy  and  with  enlarged  views 
to  her  sublime  work,  for  which  she  was  commissioned  by  her  Lord  and  Master. 
This  is  not  a time  for  leisurely  surveys  of  the  past,  and  for  complacent  congratula- 
tions over  what  has  been  accomplished.  The  work  is  yet  before  us ; its  demands 
are  growing,  and  must  continue  to  grow.  The  success  which  God  has  given  us  in 
answer  to  our  prayers,  has  not  only  multiplied  the  calls  upon  us  for  increasing 
benevolence,  but  has  given  to  those  calls  an  urgency  and  a pathos  which  are 
enough  to  stir  any  heart.  Laborers  willing  to  be  sent  forth,  wOl  not  be  wanting ; 
our  Theological  Seminaries  are  fuller  than  ever  before ; but  will  the  benevolence  of 
the  Church  keep  pace  with  this  progress?  Will  they  be  equal  to  the  exigency? 
This  question  is  solemn  as  Eternity.  Our  churches  must  make  the  most  of  the 
resources  which  God  has  given  them.  We  need  to  have  every  believer  enlisted  in 
this  work,  for  it  must  increase  in  its  demands  until  prophecy  becomes  history. 
Strange  as  it  may  seem,  it  is  lamentably  evident  that  there  are  some  who  can  be 
idlers  in  Christ’s  vineyard.  We  read  concerning  Titian — that  great  artist,  to  pick 
up  whose  pencil  Charles  V.  pronounced  a service  worthy  of  an  Emperor — that 
though  his  home  commanded  a view  of  the  Tyrolese  Alps;  yet  none  of  his  works 
show  the  slightest  evidence  that  he  ever  really  perceived  or  felt  the  constant  and 
impressive  appeal  of  all  that  solemn  grandeur  and  awful  sublimitj'.  This  seems 
passing  strange  tons;  we  can  scarce  understand  it;  and  yet  how  like  human 
nature  it  is!  What  is  ever  before  us  affects  us  but  little.  There  are  believers  liv- 
ing day  by  day  within  the  dark  shadows  of  that  stupendous  fact  which  towers  over 
all  others,  with  only  the  cross  above  it — eight  hundred  millions  of  men  still  in 
HEATHENISM ; and  yet  you  can  see  in  the  works  of  those  believers  no  evidences 
whatever  that  they  have  felt  the  appeal  which  this  solemn  fact  continually  makes 
to  all  that  is  human  and  Christian  within  us.  Can  it  be  that  such  lives  are  really 
Christian  ? Wo  do  not  answer ; but  only  pray  that  our  lives  may  not  be  such. 

THOMAS  S.  HASTINGS, 

Corresponding  Secretary. 


Il]e  foreign  glissionarg  Socittn  of  Uclo-fjorli  anb  Sroolilp, 

in  account  current  with  their  Treasurer,  ALMON  MERWIN. 


From  August  1st,  1858,  to  July  31st,  1859. 


Allen-stroet  Presbyterian  Churcli, 

Brick  " “ . . 

Broadway  Tabernacle,  .... 

Central  l*resbyterian  Church, 

Church  of  the  Puritans,  .... 

Eastern  Congregational  Church, 

Eleventh  Presbyterian  “ . . . 

Fourteenth-street  an  _ _ 

Fourth  Avenue  " “ . . . 

First-street  “ “ . 

Harlem  “ “ . . . 

Mercer-street  « n _ _ 

Madison-square  “ “ . . . 

North  « « , . 

Seventh  “ “ . . . 

Spring-street  n u _ 

Thirteenth-street  “ “ . . . 

West  ..  i<  . . 

West  23d-street  “ “ . . . 

Sundry  donations  in  New-Tork  and  Brooklyn, 
BROOKLYN. 

Bedford  Congregational  Church, 

Church  of  the  Pilgrims, 

Clinton  Avenue  Congregational  Church, 
Central  “ “ 

First  Presbyterian  “ • 

Plymouth  Congregational  “ 

Park  Presbyterian  “ . 

South  “ “ 

South  Congregational  “ . 

Third  Presbyterian  “ 

Westminster  “ “ . . 

Warren-street  Mission  “ 

Williarasburgh  First  Presbyterian  “ . 

New  England  Congregational  “ 


Cr. 


$99 

00 

. 733 

37 

279 

69 

. 547 

93 

352 

17 

17 

33 

166 

70 

. 2406 

08 

621 

15 

. 13 

04 

167 

39 

. 2919 

17 

3357 

73 

. 364 

34 

275 

14 

. 101 

89 

131 

66 

. 335 

00 

73 

00 

— 

$12,961 

78 

2437 

33 

2,437 

33 

25 

00 

. 1787 

73 

75 

38 

, 36 

70 

1047 

75 

. 167 

04 

29 

77 

. 626 

65 

248 

49 

. 428 

42 

271 

22 

. 16 

00 

49 

36 

. 100 

00 

4,909  51 


$20,308  62 


Dr. 


Paid  for  Carriage  hire, $7  40 

“ “ 3,000  copies  of  Dr.  Parker’s  Sermon,  . 128  20 

Entered  at  sundry  times  in  accotmt  with  James  M. 

Gordon,  Treasurer  of  the  A.B.C.F  M., 


136  60 
20,173  02 


$20,308  62 


New-Tork,  July  31,  1859. 

Examined  and  found  correct.  A.  Meewin, 

Oliver  H.  Lee,  Treasurer. 

L.  E.  Jackson, 


RECEIPTS  OF  THE  SOCIETY. 


The  following  statement  exhibits  the  receipts  of  the  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  New-York 
and  Brooklyn,  from  its  organization  in  182T,  to  August,  1859 ; and  also  the  same  in  periods  of  three 
and  six  years,  and  the  increase  per  cent  of  each  of  the  longer  periods. 


182T,..., 

1827- 28,, 

1828- 29, 

1829- 30, 

1830- 31, 

1831- 32, 


1832- 33,, 

1833- 34, 

1834- 35, 

1835- 36, 
1886-37, 

1837-38, 


1838- 39, 

1839- 40, 
1840^1, 

1841-42, 

184333,. 

184;3-44, 


1845-45, 

1845- 46, 

1846- 47, 

1847.48,, 

1848- 49,. 

1849- 50, 


1850- 51, 

1851- 52, 

1852- 58, 


1858-54, 

1854- 55, 

1855- 56, 


1856- 57, 

1857- 58, 

1858- 59, 


Tear  ending  July  31. 


,S6,970  99 
. 3.407  20 
. 6,682  49 


9,564  29 
7,597  23 
9,984  91 


.14,044  64 
. 7,6-35  57 
,13,401  83 


.12,164  95 
17,107  34 
11,234  86 


13,796  61 
,11,132  91 
,12,447  64 


.15,301  06 
13,390  01 
.10,923  95 


11.885  04 
7,974  42 
.13,807  09 


.11,698  89 
,21,252  76 
.13,241  69 


.17,847  81 
.2.3,231  49 
.22,178  26 


,20,842  48 
,18,106  29 
21,648  94 


28,914  41 
,24,208  24 
,20,808  62 


Periods  of  three 
years  each. 

Periods  of  six 
j-ears  each. 

Increase  per  cent 
of  each  period  of 
six  years  on  the 
preceding. 

$17,060  68 

27,146  43 

$44,207  11 

85,082  04 

40,507  15 

75,589  19 

71 

37,377  16 

89,614  02 

76,991  IS 

1.9 

33,666  55 

46,092  84 

79,759  89 

8.4 

63,251  06 

60,097  66 

123,848  72 

54 

78,481  27 

18 

An  inspection  of  the  above  table  shows  very  considerable  irregularity  In  the  contributions  re- 
ported annually.  During  the  last  twenty-five  years,  the  year  of  smallest  receipts  was  1845-6, 
when  they  did  not  quite  equal  $8000.  The  largest  amount  raised  was  In  1856-7 : the  sum  being 
nearly  $29,000. 

Dividing  tho  thirty-three  years  Into  periods  of  three  years  each,  we  find  that  of  the  last  nine 
periods  tho  one  of  smallest  receipts  was  tho  fifth— from  1844  to  1847.  Excepting  that,  and  the 


fourth  of  Iho  eleven  (from  1585  to  1S8S)  when  the  receipt*  rose  above  th..fe  of  the  preceding  and 
the  three  following  period*,  there  was  an  Increase  In  each  period  to  the  tenth.  In  which  there 
a alight  foiling  off,  as  coiiipared  with  the  ninth,  succeeded  by  a considerable  enlargement  In  the 

eleventh.  , . 

Doubling  these  periods,  an  advance  Is  disclosed  In  each  period  of  six  years  on  the  one  that  pre- 
cedes It  The  rate  of  advance,  however,  is  very  unequal.  From  the  first  to  the  second  tt  1*  i 
per  cent;  from  the  second  to  the  third  it  Is  only  1.9  per  cent;  from  the  third  to  the  fourth  it  Is 
8.4  per  cent;  from  the  fourth  to  the  fifth  it  rises  to  51  per  cent;  In  the  la.st  three  years  it  1s  Is  per 

cent  over  the  previous  period.  ....  , 

The  commencement  of  the  third  of  the  larger  periods  (ISSS)  was  the  year  of  the  disruption  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  followed  by  increasing  diversion  of  contrlbntlons  fh>m  the  treasury  of 
the  American  Board  and  this  Auxiliary  into  that  of  the  Board  of  the  General  Assembly,  (0.  8.  ) 
The  commercial  revulsions  also  of  the  periods  following  1S87  and  1857  are  indicated  in  the  figures 

of  the  above  tabular  view.  -r-  i i 

The  immense  growth  which  has  Uken  place  in  the  population  and  wealth  of  New-Tork  an*l 
Brooklyn  has  affected  the  missionary  contributions  of  our  churches  both  favorably  and  adversely. 
It  has  brought  several  new  churches,  of  which  three  or  four  are  wealthy  and  liberal,  into  exist- 
ence to  aid  us  with  their  offerings ; but  it  has  also,  by  the  change  of  population,  swept  some  once 
strong,  and  many  weaker  churches  out  of  existence,  or  stricken  them  with  a wasting  which  is  the 
precursor  of  death.  Just  twenty  years  ago— in  1S8S-9— contributions  were  acknowledged  from 
twenty-eight  congregations.  Of  those,  thirteen  have  become  extinct;  five  have  removed  uj. 
town  • and  four  were  Old  School  Presbyterian  churches,  only  one  of  which  now  gives  it  mission  - 
ary collections  (in  part)  into  this  channel.  During  the  same  period,  several  churches  have  had 
both  their  birth  and  their  death. 

This  process  of  removal,  organization,  and  extinction,  is  still  going  on.  Seven  years  ago,  not 
including  three  Presbyterian  churches  which  then  contributed  an  aggregate  of  $12.54.  and  do  not 
now  cooperate  with  us,  contributions  were  received  from  thirty-four  churches,  seven  of  which 
have  since  ceased  to  e.xist,  and  five  have  erected  costly  houses  of  worship,  and  exist  as  essential!) 
new  congregations  in  other  parts  of  the  city. 

The  heavy  draughts  upon  the  pecuniary  resources  of  the  churches  thus  made,  and  imposed  by 
the  many  other  objects  rightfully  claiming  their  share  of  assistance,  are  not,  however,  so  serious  a 
hindrance  to  the  advance  which  is  desirable  in  this  department  of  benevolent  activity,  as  are  the 
difficulty  of  training  the  churches  to  right  habits  of  giving  through  the  constant  change  in  the 
membership  and  the  sadly  counteracting  influences  of  business  and  social  life.  What  might  not 
the  wealth  that  is  in  our  churches,  if  it  were  consecrated  to  Christ,  achieve  for  his  kingdom  and 
the  salvation  of  the  heathen  ? 

The  receipts  of  the  year  just  past  are  less  by  $3900  than  those  of  the  preceding  year.  Morv 
than  $.3000  of  this  sum  was  withdrawn  by  the  decease  of  liberal  contributors.  'Who  among  the 
living  will  take  the  place  In  their  offerings  to  this  cause,  of  the  sainted  dead  ? 


( 


LIST  OF  OFFICERS 

FOE  THE  TEAR  1859. 


PRESIDENT. 

DAVID  nOADLEY. 


VICE-PRESIDENTS. 

A.  R.  WETMORE,  I WILLIAM  E.  DODGE, 

S.  B.  CHITTENDEN,  \ OLIVER  E.  WOOD. 

CORRESPONDING  SECRETARY. 

Rev.  THOMAS  S.  HASTINGS. 

RECORDING  SECRETARY. 

ALMON  MERWIN. 

TREASCRER. 

ALMON  MHRWIN. 


DIRECTORS. 


Alien-street  Prcshyterian  Church, 
Brick  “ “ 

Broadway  Tabernacle, 

Central  Presbyterian  “ 

Church  of  the  Puritans, 

Eastern  Congregational  “ 

Eleventh  Presbyterian  “ 

Fourteenth-street  “ “ 

Fourth  Avenue  '■  “ 

Harlem  “ “ 

Mercer- street  “ “ 

Madison- Square  “ “ 

North  “ “ 

Seventh  “ 


George  Betts,  Joseph  W.  Lester. 

A.  L.  Ely,  Horace  Holden. 

W.  G.  West,  W.  W.  Fessenden. 

W.  S.  Dorr,  James  W.  Dunning. 

W.  C.  Gilman,  Elisha  Harris,  M.D. 

. . . .James  Remsen,  Lewis  Chichester. 

Alex.  McNey,  J.  H.  Bolen. 

. . .S.  II.  Wale;.  J.  F.  Joy. 

Alfred  C.Post,M.D.,W.A.Wheeleu. 

. . . .E.  Ketch UM,  James  Riker,  Jr. 

W.  W.  Chester,  G.  Manning  Traoy, 

Richard  Bigelow. 

Geo.  D.  Phelps,  Z.  S.  Ely,  Charles 

Trask. 

0.  H.  Lee,  George  D.  Cragin. 

....Charles  Merrill,  H.  B.  Littell, 
Jas.  W.  Bishop. 


27 


First-street  Presbyterian  Chuueh, 
Spring-street  “ “ 

Thirteenth-street  Presbyterian  Church, 
W'est  “ “ 

iresi  2'iclrstreet  “ “ 

Bedford  Cong.  Church,  Brooklyn, 
Clinton  Av.  “ “ “ 

Church  of  the  Pilgrims,  " 

Central  Cong.  Church,  “ 

Elm  Place  “ “ " 

First  Presbyterian  " “ 

Plymouth  Cong.  " “ 

Park  Presbyterian  “ “ 

Second  “ “ “ 

South  " " 

South  Cong.  " “ 

Third  Presb.  “ “ 

Westminster  Presb.  “ “ 

irarren-s/.  Mission  “ “ 

First  Presb.  Church,  WiUiamsburgh, 


. . .Francis  Duncan,  John  Kerr. 

. . .John  Endicott,  John  R.  Wilcox. 

. . .John  C.  Hines,  Geobqe  W.  Beale. 

. . .Lewis  E.  Jackson,  A.  L.  Earle. 

. . .Henry  D.  Crane,  T.  D.  Lander. 

. . .D.  0.  Calkins,  Edward  T.  Goodall. 
...A.  S.  Barnes,  Samuel  E.  Warner, 
Alfred  Smithers. 

. . .Sidney  Sanderson,  S.  F.  Puei.i’s, 
Rich.  P.  Buck,  ElyMygatt,  Jr. 
. . .William  Cutter,  S.  B.  Cole. 

. . .F.  W.  Burke,  Chas.  B.  Williams. 

. . .Fisher  Howe,  J.  W.  Hayes. 

...J.  T.  Howard,  Arthur  Nichols, 
Edward  Corning. 

. . .E.  A.  Lambert,  T.  C.  Dodd. 

. . .A.  Trask,  A.  B.  Baylis. 

. . .R.  F.  Howes,  A.  L.  Van  Bures. 

. . .S.  N.  Davis,  Henry  Law. 

. . .W.  W.  Hurlbut,  j.  C.  ILalsey,  M.D. 
. . .Walter  S.  Griffith,  John  Milton 
Smith,  Andrew  Maso.v. 

. . .N.  H.  Holt. 

. . .Joseph  F.  Tuttle,  J.  W.  Buckley. 


